Snow pole apparatus and methods therefor

ABSTRACT

A snow pole apparatus comprises a snow pole assembly including a housing having an interior portion and a plurality of pole members located axially in the interior portion of the housing. Each pole member of the plurality of pole members is concentric to another pole member of the plurality of pole members, and a pole retracting member of the snow pole assembly is configured to retract each one of the plurality of pole members into the interior portion of the housing after at least a portion of each one of the plurality of pole members is extended exterior to the interior portion of the housing. The snow pole apparatus further comprises a pole release member configured to permit selective extension of at least a portion of each one of the plurality of pole members exterior to the interior portion of the housing.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to snow poles and more specifically toimproved snow pole apparatus having pole members that may beautomatically extended and retracted from an interior portion of ahousing of the snow pole apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Snowboarding has become a popular past-time for many people.Snowboarding differs from skiing principally in the use of a singleboard with two spaced apart bindings for a person's feet instead of twoskis with a binding for each foot of a person. A skier typically usestwo ski poles to control motion on snow surfaces. Generally, a ski poleis not used by snowboarders, since the snowboard is wider than a ski andusually a person is able to maneuver the snowboard like a surfboard. Asnowboarder controls the snowboard by shifting the snowboarder's weightfrom side to side like a surf board and slows down or stops thesnowboard by simply sliding one foot from the binding of the snowboardand placing that foot onto the surface of the snow.

In some situations, such as when the slope of a hill is shallow, thesnowboard will not move, so it would be useful for a snowboarder to havea snow pole to help drive the snowboard against gravity. Additionally, apole would also be useful when a snowboarder is unable to use a foot forsafely maneuvering the snowboard.

Collapsible and adjustable poles for skiing are known. Hoffman, U.S.Pat. No. 6,217,073 disclosed a manually extendable and retractable shaftfor a snow pole with a basket or plate at one end of the snow poleshaft. The basket or plate end of the snow pole is placed against thesnow surface, so that the snowboarder can push along the surface of thesnow. According to Hoffman's '073 disclosure, the collapsible snow poleis substantially a regular-sized ski pole which must be carried like asmall ski pole by the snowboarder and does not permit hands-freesnowboarding.

The present inventor has recognized the need for a snow pole apparatusthat may be conveniently stored in the snowboarder's pocket or otherwisestored so that the snowboarder may ride the snowboard hands-free. Thepresent inventor's snow pole apparatus has additional advantagesincluding a handle holding a plurality of snow pole members which areautomatically extended and retracted and a homing device which may beactivated by the snowboarder during an emergency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of this disclosure to provide an improvedsnow pole apparatus.

It is a further object of this disclosure to provide an improved snowpole apparatus having snow pole members that may be automaticallyextended from an interior portion of a housing of the snow poleapparatus.

It is a still further object of this disclosure to provide an improvedsnow pole apparatus having snow pole members that may be automaticallyretracted into an interior portion of a housing of the snow poleapparatus after the snow pole members have been extended from theinterior portion of the housing.

It is a further object of this disclosure to provide methods for usingan improved snow pole apparatus having snow pole members that may beautomatically extended from an interior portion of a housing of the snowpole apparatus.

It is a yet further object of this disclosure to provide methods forusing an improved snow pole apparatus having snow pole members that maybe automatically retracted into an interior portion of a housing of thesnow pole apparatus after the snow pole members have been extended fromthe interior portion of the housing.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a snow poleapparatus is disclosed. The snow pole apparatus comprises, incombination, a snow pole assembly including a housing having an interiorportion and a plurality of pole members located axially in the interiorportion of the housing. Each pole member of the plurality of polemembers is concentric to another pole member of the plurality of polemembers, and a pole retracting member of the snow pole assembly isconfigured to retract each one of the plurality of pole members into theinterior portion of the housing after at least a portion of each one ofthe plurality of pole members is extended exterior to the interiorportion of the housing. The snow pole apparatus further comprises a polerelease member configured to permit selective extension of at least aportion of each one of the plurality of pole members exterior to theinterior portion of the housing.

In accordance with a second embodiment of this invention, a method forusing a snow pole apparatus is disclosed. The method comprises the stepsof providing a snow pole assembly including a housing having an interiorportion, providing a plurality of pole members located axially in theinterior portion of the housing, each pole member of the plurality ofpole members being concentric to another pole member of the plurality ofpole members; and providing a pole retracting member of the snow poleassembly is configured to retract each one of the plurality of polemembers into the interior portion of the housing after at least aportion of each one of the plurality of pole members is extendedexterior to the interior portion of the housing. The method furthercomprises the steps of actuating the pole retracting member, retractinga first pole member of the plurality of pole members into the interiorportion of the housing after a portion of the pole retracting membercommunicates with a first locking pin of a plurality of locking pins;and retracting each one of the remaining pole members of the pluralityof pole members into the interior portion of the housing after a portionof the pole retracting member communicates with each one of theremaining locking pins of the plurality of locking pins.

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following, more detailed descriptionof the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a snow pole apparatus comprising ahousing, a pole retracting member at one end of the housing and aplurality of pole members extending from an opposite end of the housingwith the last pole member of the plurality of pole members having a tipaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing an exterior portion of the housingof the snow pole apparatus of FIG. 1 with the tip of the plurality ofpole members extending from the opposite end of the housing and thehousing including the pole retracting member and a pole release member.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view showing a front side of the snow poleapparatus of FIG. 1 with each one of the pole members of the pluralityof pole members having a locking pin and a keyway, the housing includingboth the pole retracting member and the pole release member, with aninterior portion of the housing including a retracting spring coupled toa tension line, the tension line coupled to an interior portion of thelast pole member of the plurality of pole members and an extendingspring coupled to an end portion of the interior portion of the housing.

FIG. 2A is an elevational view showing a portion of the front side ofanother embodiment of the snow pole apparatus of FIG. 1 with theinterior portion of the housing including an extending spring coupled toa first pole member of the plurality of pole members.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view through 3-3 of FIG. 2 of the snow poleapparatus showing the tension line, and two concentric pole members ofthe plurality of pole members.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to FIG. 1A, in one embodiment of a snow pole apparatus, thesnow pole apparatus comprises a snow pole assembly 10 including ahousing 12 having an interior portion 14 (not shown in FIG. 1A, butshown in FIGS. 2 and 2A). The housing 12 preferably comprises a rigidmaterial such as aluminum or resin impregnated fiber such as glass fiberor carbon fiber. An outer portion of the housing 12 preferably comprisesan elastomeric material such as a rubber (either synthetic or natural)and the like which may securely gripped by a person. The snow poleassembly 10 further comprises a plurality of pole members 16 locatedaxially in the interior portion 14 of the housing 12 (not shown in FIG.1A, but both FIGS. 1B and 2 shows the plurality of pole members 16extended exterior to the interior portion 14 of the housing 12). Eachpole member 16 of the plurality of pole members 16 preferably comprisesa rigid light weight material. Examples of a suitable light weightmaterial include metals such as heat-treated aluminum, titanium and thelike, and resin impregnated fibers such as glass and carbon. In FIG. 1A(and also shown in FIGS. 1B and 2) the snow pole assembly 10 furthercomprises a pole tip 30 coupled to an outer portion 38 of one end of alast pole member 16 of the plurality of pole members 16. The pole tip 30preferably comprises a hard rigid metal such as carbide hardened steelor titanium and the like. Each pole member 16 of the plurality of polemembers 16 is concentric with another pole member 16 of the plurality ofpole members 16 (see FIG. 3 which shows a sectional view through 3-3 ofFIG. 2). Furthermore, in FIG. 1A (and also shown in FIGS. 1B, 2 and 2A)a pole retracting member 18 located at one end of the housing 12 of thesnow pole assembly 10, is configured to retract each one of theplurality of pole members 16 into the interior portion 14 of the housing12 after at least a portion of each one of the plurality of pole members16 is extended exterior to the interior portion 14 of the housing 12(see FIGS. 1B, 2 and 2A). Referring to FIG. 1A the snow pole assembly 10also comprises a pole release member 32 (also shown in FIGS. 2 and 2A).The pole release member 32 is configured to permit selective extensionof at least a portion of each one of the plurality of pole members 16exterior to the interior portion 14 of the housing 12 (see FIGS. 2 and2A).

Referring now to FIG. 2, each one of the plurality of pole members 16 ofthe snow pole assembly 10 includes one of a plurality of locking pins 20located at one end of each of the plurality of pole members 16 and eachone of the plurality of pole members 16 has a keyway 22 (also shown inFIG. 3). Additionally, each one of the plurality of locking pins 20 ofeach one of the plurality of pole members 16 engages the keyway 22 ofeach one of the plurality of pole members 16 after at least a portion ofeach one of the plurality of pole members 16 is extended exterior to theinterior portion 14 of the housing 12 thereby permitting coordinatedextension and retraction of each one of the plurality of pole members16. In FIG. 2 (and also FIG. 2A) a retracting spring 24 located in aportion of the housing 12 and a tension line 26 having a first end and asecond end retract each one of the pole members 16 into the interiorportion 14 of the housing 12 of the snow pole assembly 10. The first endof the tension line 26 is coupled to the retracting spring 24. Thesecond end of the tension line 26 is coupled to an inner end portion ofthe last pole member 16 of the plurality of pole members 16. Theretracting spring 24 is adapted to retract each one of the plurality ofpole members 16 into the interior portion 14 of the housing 12 after aportion 34 of the pole retracting member 18 communicates with at least afirst locking pin 20 of the plurality of locking pins 20 (see FIGS. 2and 2A). After a first pole member 16 of the plurality of pole members16 is retracted into the interior portion 14 of the housing 12, each oneof the remaining plurality of locking pins 20 also communicate in turnwith the portion 34 of the pole retracting member 18 and each one of theremaining plurality of pole members 16 in turn retracts into theinterior portion 14 of the housing 12. It is understood that the firstlocking pin 20 of the plurality of locking pins 20 may be coupled toeach one of the plurality of locking pins 20.

Referring again to FIG. 2 each pole member 16 of the plurality of polemembers 16 has at least one indentation 36 adapted to engage a portionof the pole release member 32 thereby permitting selective extension ofat least a portion of each one of the plurality of pole members 16 afteractuating the pole release member 32. Each one of the plurality of polemembers 16 may be extended exterior to the interior portion 14 of thehousing 12 after actuating the pole release member 32 by providing acasting motion. As shown (see FIG. 2) one embodiment of the snow poleassembly 10 preferably comprises at least one extending spring 28located at one end of the interior portion 14 of the housing 12, and theat least one extending spring 28 is adapted to extend at least a portionof each one of the plurality of pole members 16 exterior to the interiorportion 14 of the housing 12 after actuating the pole release member 32.Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2A, another embodiment of the snow poleassembly 10 preferably comprises at least one extending spring 28located at one end of the first pole member 16 of the plurality of polemembers 16, and the at least one extending spring 28 is adapted toextend at least a portion of each one of the plurality of pole members16 exterior to the interior portion 14 of the housing 12 after actuatingthe pole release member 32. The at least one extending spring 28 permitsautomatic extension of the plurality of pole members 16 after the polerelease member 32 is actuated. It is to be understood that each one ofthe pole members 16 may further comprise at least one extending spring28 (not shown). Furthermore, the snow pole assembly 10 may comprise ahoming device (not shown) selectively actuated by a person therebypermitting the person to be located during an emergency. One example ofa homing device is a microchip adapted to couple to a GPS locatingsystem. Another simpler homing device may be a flag or a light whichwould be visible to a search party.

In using the snow pole apparatus comprising the snow pole assembly 10, aperson may store the snow pole apparatus in a convenient location suchas a belt clip or in a pocket so that the person may ride a snowboardhands free. When the person wishes to use the snow pole apparatus, whichhas previously been stored in a retracted position, the person retrievesthe snow pole apparatus from the belt clip or the pocket and actuatesthe pole release member 32 thereby permitting selective extension of atleast a portion of each one of the plurality of pole members 16. Atleast a portion of one of the plurality of pole members 16 is secured inan extended configuration exterior to the interior portion 14 of thehousing 12 when at least one indentation 36 of the plurality of polemembers 16 engages the pole release member 32. The extending spring 28or the casting motion of the person extends a portion of one of theplurality of pole members 16 exterior to the interior portion 14 of thehousing 12. The person than places the pole tip 30 of the snow poleassembly 10 against a snow surface when each one of the plurality ofpole members 16 is extended exterior to the interior portion 14 of thehousing 12, thereby permitting the person riding a snowboard to pushalong the snow surface. When the person no longer needs to use the snowpole apparatus in the extended position, the person actuates the poleretracting member 18, retracting a first pole member 16 of the pluralityof pole members 16 into the interior portion 14 of the housing 12 aftera portion 34 of the pole retracting member 18 communicates with a firstlocking pin 20 of the plurality of locking pins 20, and retracting eachone of the remaining pole members 16 of the plurality of pole members 16into the interior portion 14 of the housing 12 after a portion 34 of thepole retracting member 18 communicates with each one of the remaininglocking pins 20 of the plurality of locking pins 20. The person thaneither clips the retracted snow pole apparatus back into place or placesthe snow pole apparatus into a pocket for future use.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in formand details may be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention. For example, the location of the indentation ineach one of the plurality of pole members may be adjusted to permitpeople of different heights to conveniently extend the snow poleapparatus to suit their height. All pole members may be retracted whenthe first locking member is coupled to the remaining locking pinswithout each one of the locking pins communicating with a portion of theretracting member.

1. A snow pole apparatus comprising, in combination: a snow poleassembly including a housing having an interior portion; a plurality ofpole members located axially in said interior portion of said housing,each pole member of said plurality of pole members is concentric toanother pole member of said plurality of pole members; and a poleretracting member of said snow pole assembly configured to retract eachone of said plurality of pole members into said interior portion of saidhousing after at least a portion of each one of said plurality of polemembers is extended exterior to said interior portion of said housing.2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a pole release member,said pole release member configured to permit selective extension of atleast a portion of each one of said plurality of pole members exteriorto said interior portion of said housing.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1wherein each one of said plurality of pole members including one of aplurality of locking pins located at one end of each one of saidplurality of pole members and each one of said plurality of pole membershaving a keyway, each one of said plurality of locking pins of each oneof said plurality of pole members engaging said keyway of each one ofsaid plurality of pole members after at least a portion of each one ofsaid plurality of pole members is extended exterior to said interiorportion of said housing thereby permitting coordinated extension andretraction of each one of said plurality of pole members.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 1 further comprising a retracting spring located in aportion of said housing and a tension line having a first end and asecond end; said first end of said tension line coupled to saidretracting spring, said second end of said tension line coupled to aninner end portion of a last pole member of said plurality of polemembers; and said retracting spring adapted to retract each one of saidplurality of pole members into said interior portion of said housingafter a portion of said pole retracting member communicates with atleast a first locking pin of said plurality of locking pins.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 2 further comprising at least one extending spring;and said at least one extending spring adapted to extend at least aportion of each one of said plurality of pole members exterior to saidinterior portion of said housing after actuating said pole releasemember.
 6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each pole member of saidplurality of pole members has at least one indentation adapted to engagea portion of said pole release member thereby permitting selectiveextension of at least a portion of each one of said plurality of polemembers after actuating said pole release member.
 7. The apparatus ofclaim 1 further comprising a pole tip located on an outer portion of oneend of a last pole member of said plurality of pole members.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 1 further comprising a homing device selectivelyactuated by a person thereby permitting said person to be located duringan emergency.
 9. A method for using a snow pole apparatus comprising thesteps of: providing a snow pole assembly including a housing having aninterior portion; providing a plurality of pole members located axiallyin said interior portion of said housing, each pole member of saidplurality of pole members being concentric to another pole member ofsaid plurality of pole members; and providing a pole retracting memberof said snow pole assembly configured to retract each one of saidplurality of pole members into said interior portion of said housingafter at least a portion of each one of said plurality of pole membersis extended exterior to said interior portion of said housing.
 10. Themethod according to claim 9 further comprising the steps of: providingsaid snow pole assembly including a pole release member, said polerelease member configured to permit selective extension of at least aportion of each one of said plurality of pole members exterior to saidinterior portion of said housing; providing each one of said pluralityof pole members including one of a plurality of locking pins located atone end of each of said plurality of pole members; providing each one ofsaid plurality of pole members having a keyway; and providing each oneof said plurality of locking pins of each one of said plurality of polemembers engaging said keyway of each one of said plurality of polemembers after at least a portion of each one of said plurality of polemembers is extended exterior to said interior portion of said housingthereby permitting coordinated extension and retraction of each one ofsaid plurality of pole members.
 11. The method according to claim 10further comprising the steps of: providing a retracting spring locatedin a portion of said housing; providing a tension line having a firstend and a second end, said first end of said tension line coupled tosaid retracting spring, said second end of said tension line coupled toan inner end portion of a last pole member of said plurality of polemembers; actuating said pole retracting member; retracting a first polemember of said plurality of pole members into said interior portion ofsaid housing after a portion of said pole retracting member communicateswith a first locking pin of said plurality of locking pins; andretracting each one of the remaining pole members of said plurality ofpole members into said interior portion of said housing after a portionof said pole retracting member communicates with each one of theremaining locking pins of said plurality of locking pins.
 12. The methodaccording to claim 10 further comprising the steps of: providing atleast one extending spring; providing said at least one extending springadapted to extend at least a portion of each one of said plurality ofpole members exterior to said interior portion of said housing;providing each pole member of said plurality of pole members has atleast one indentation adapted to engage a portion of said pole releasemember; actuating said pole release member thereby permitting selectiveextension of at least a portion of each one of said plurality of polemembers; and securing at least a portion of one of said plurality ofpole members in an extended configuration exterior to said interiorportion of said housing when at least one indentation of said pluralityof pole members engages said pole release member.
 13. The methodaccording to claim 10 further comprising the steps of: providing eachpole member of said plurality of pole members has at least oneindentation adapted to engage a portion of said pole release member;actuating said pole release member thereby permitting selectiveextension of at least a portion of each one of said plurality of polemembers; providing a casting motion thereby extending at least a portionof each one of said plurality of pole members; and securing at least aportion of one of said plurality of pole members in an extendedconfiguration exterior to said interior portion of said housing when atleast one indentation of said plurality of pole members engages saidpole release member.
 14. The method according to claim 10 furthercomprising the steps of: providing said snow pole assembly including apole tip located on an outer portion of one end of a last pole member ofsaid plurality of pole members; and placing said pole tip of said snowpole assembly against a snow surface when each one of said pole membersis extended exterior to said interior portion of said housing, therebypermitting a person riding a snowboard to push along the snow surface.